Asean News Headlines at 10pm on Friday (Dec 26, 2025)


People visit illuminated decorations assembled for Christmas and New Year's celebrations, at a department store in Bangkok, Thailand, December 25, 2025. -- Photo: REUTERS/Chalinee Thirasupa

Malaysia

* 1MDB verdict: Najib gets 15 years' jail plus RM11.4bil fine

* 1MDB verdict: High Court convicts Najib on all 25 charges in RM2.3bil case

* 1MDB probe a fulfilment of MACC's duty to the country, says Azam

* 1MDB verdict: Najib still thinking about transforming Malaysia's economy, says Shafee

* High Court rejects Najib’s defence of Arab donations in 1MDB trail

* PAS picks replacement for Perlis MB

* Over RM1bil worth of drugs seized in Klang Valley

* Surveyor charged with murdering mum and adopted sister

* Perlis Speaker to notify EC of three vacancies next week

* PAS ready for by-elections to fill Perlis vacancies, says Hadi

* Cops still trying to trace family of woman who lived at KLIA for a year

* Addictive social media algorithms threaten child safety and development, says Fahmi

* Bersatu must punish Perlis reps to prove its sincerity to PN, says PAS info chief

* Rise in divorces not a commercial prospect for lawyers but a growing social concern, says M'sian Bar

* Malaysia's economy remains resilient in 2025 amid tariff wars, geopolitical turbulence

* Ringgit rises to 4.04 as investor confidence strengthens; economist foresees return to 3.82

Singapore

* Six arrested, 13 investigated over suspected money mule activities in Singapore

* Singapore Airlines flights among hundreds cancelled in New York due to snowstorm in US city

* Top Singaporean singer Kit Chan hosts travel show for first time to step out of her comfort zone

* Asia stocks rise to six-week high; precious metals on a tear

* Oil rises slightly as market weighs supply risks

Indonesia

* US once again recalls imported Indonesian shrimp over Cs-137 findings

* Saved from sure death - Indonesia repatriates four orangutans from illegal wildlife trafficking

* Disaster relief budget for food-hit Sumatra sufficient, says finance minister

* Malaysia and Indonesia celebrate a year of partnership and fruitful ventures on

Thailand

* Thailand's PM expresses hope for a ceasefire with Cambodia by Dec 27

* Elusive wild cat feared extinct rediscovered in Thailand

* Thailand accuses Cambodia of new attacks while negotiating peace

* Former Thai leader Abhisit Vejjajiva among Democrat Party’s prime ministerial picks for Feb 8 polls

A woman visits illuminated decorations assembled for Christmas and New Year's celebrations, at a department store in Bangkok, Thailand, December 25, 2025. -- Photo: REUTERS/Chalinee Thirasupa
A woman visits illuminated decorations assembled for Christmas and New Year's celebrations, at a department store in Bangkok, Thailand, December 25, 2025. -- Photo: REUTERS/Chalinee Thirasupa

Philippines

* US beauty crowned Miss Cosmo 2025 in Ho Chi Minh City; Philippines; rep finish second

* Four passengers killed, another 23 injured as bus plunges into ravine in Philippines on Boxing Day

* South Korea clinches 850bil won deal to deliver two more frigates to the Philippines Navy 

* Asian equities eye strong weekly gains; Taiwan, S.Korea lead tech-driven surge

Vietnam

* Mass fish deaths after diesel spill at Vietnam's oil depot, fields and rivers contaminated

* 'Now, this is what I call Merry, Xmas': US lottery player wins RM7.3bil Powerball on Christmas Eve

* Vietnamese southern hub Ho Chi Minh City's FDI inflows jump 24 per cent in 2025 

* Toyota's global output sinks 5.5 per cent in November, first fall in six months 

Myanmar

* EXPLAINER - Why is Myanmar's junta holding an election during a civil war?

* Myanmar will hold its first general election in five years as criticism of the military rule mounts

* Myanmar sets late January date for final election round

* Stateless Rohingya rue Myanmar's election from exile

Cambodia

* Thai defence minister to attend ongoing truce talks with Cambodia, says PM Anutin

* The Malaysian Embassy in Cambodia advises Malaysians to avoid border areas 

* Cambodia says Thailand escalated strikes during border talks

* Resintech unit secures RM16 mil HDPE pipes contract in Cambodia

Laos

* Laos and Thailand open new Mekong bridge, cutting distance to Vietnam by 150 km

* Asian Development Bank approves funds for forestry restoration project in Laos

* Laos seeks to have secure cybersecurity and combat online fraud

Brunei

* It's getting real stinky here - Brunei Residents frustrated by waste collection delays

* Gold, silver jump to record highs on geopolitics, weak dollar 

* Record gold rally cools Indian buying; China discounts narrow

A woman takes a picture as she visits illuminated decorations assembled for Christmas and New Year's celebrations, at a department store in Bangkok, Thailand, December 25, 2025. -- Photo: REUTERS/Chalinee Thirasupa
A woman takes a picture as she visits illuminated decorations assembled for Christmas and New Year's celebrations, at a department store in Bangkok, Thailand, December 25, 2025. -- Photo: REUTERS/Chalinee Thirasupa

Aseanplus

* Kajang drug bust uncovers major scam call centre

* Malaysia’s export values dip in November, imports mixed

* Fred Chan becomes first M'sian actor to play lead villain in a Bollywood film

* World's longest expressway tunnel opens to traffic in Xinjiang

* AI cameras boost early warnings on bear sightings in Japan 

* South Korea prosecutors request 10-year term for ex-president

* A year on, Jeju Air crash report delayed as families question probe's credibility

* China tests super wireless rail convoy that could carry three Eiffel Towers

* Did the US play a ‘critical role’ in triggering China-India war 6 decades ago?

* Japan's cabinet approves record $785 billion budget, vows to keep debt in check

* Core inflation in Japan's capital slows in December but no bar for further BOJ hikes

* Want to read more in 2026? Here's how to revive your love of books

* Hooked on the claw: How crane games conquered Japan's arcades

* China's steady foreign trade growth expected to anchor global stability

* Not too long, not too short: The midi skirt’s timeless fashion appeal

* China's PBOC signals caution on rapid yuan gain as it nears key 7 mark

* China to rein in copper, alumina capacity expansion under next five-year plan

* Mosque bombing in Syria leaves six dead and 21 wounded

* South Korea braces itself for colder weather with temperatures expected to fall below minus 15 deg C

* HK singer Miriam Yeung shares she’s in ‘super hot spot’ for Christmas – netizens recognise it’s Penang

* South Korea court acquits ex-officials over border killing; controversial case comes to a close after five years

* Temperatures in Seoul fall to minus 11.8 deg C as South Korea is hit by season’s coldest morning

* North Korea's Kim Jong Un signals continued missile development in next 5 years

* Fact Box: One in three injury and violence deaths in Europe is linked to alcohol, reports WHO 

* Fire burns through thousands of hextares in western Australia as wind conditions set to escalate

* Putin indicated Russia could be open to territory swap as part of Ukraine deal, Kommersant says

* Badminton: Sze Fei-Izzuddin return to BAM for sparring ahead of home Open

* Cricket - Australia lead England by 46 after 20 wickets fall on crazy day at MCG

 

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